Laser back or spine surgery is a minimal invasive procedure to treat chronic back pain. However, before opting for this treatment method, it is important to weigh its pros and cons. This HealthHearty article enlightens you about some valuable information on this topic. Take a look.
Almost two decades before, back pain sufferers could only rely on medications and physical therapy to get rid of excruciating back pain. However, the introduction of laser surgery in the year 1990, has bettered the situation. Medical science has progressed by leaps and bounds since then and spinal surgeries are a reality today. The traditional spinal fusion surgeries have been replaced by more evolved and less risky procedures of laser operation.
Laser Surgery as the Treatment Option
Majority of the people suffering from excruciating pain in their upper back, lower back, and neck have some physical problem that is not easily cured through medications and physical therapy. In such cases, surgeries are required. Laser spine surgery is an endoscopic alternative that has replaced conventional methods of spine fusion surgeries. By the help of laser light beams, surgeons are able to remove bone spurs and other problems like herniated discs.
What is Good About It
Physicians have started recommending this advanced surgical treatment as a good alternative for severe back pain. Several benefits of this treatment, as established by various medical sources, are as follows:
- Due to the administration of local anesthesia, patients can be comfortable while the doctor performs the surgery.
- Since laser is used, there are no large incisions and long hospital stays. It takes an hour (on an average) for the operation to be performed.
- The recovery period of this treatment is just a few hours. If comfortable, patients can go home within a few hours after the surgery.
- This surgical procedure is less invasive as there are no cuts, incisions, etc. There is almost zero risk to other internal organs unlike conventional surgeries.
What is Bad About It
- Failed surgeries or surgeries without convincing results have led to bowel failures in certain cases. Researching on the Internet will help you to learn about several cases of lawsuits filed against several spine surgery centers in the US.
- Another significant drawback is that, it is not covered under several medical insurance policies and unfortunately it’s very expensive.
What the Patient Should Do
As a patient decides to go for laser operation, he has to firstly consider, if he seriously needs this surgery or the problem can be eliminated by any other possible methods. In case, he chooses this treatment option, he’s indirectly choosing its risk factors as well (if at all they occur). Hence, the patient has got to be mentally prepared for this. And since all this can’t be done alone, contact your family doctor and discuss the entire case within 2-3 sessions. Tell about your health concerns and discuss the methods that doctors use to eliminate pain.
Once you are done discussing with your doctor (who may also recommend you a few authentic contacts for this operation), you can know more about the treatment procedures, cost, and other factors that concern you. Ideally, you can make a list of questions that you have in your mind about the entire procedure and seek medical consultancy in the same hospital care unit, where you may undergo the surgery.
Various surgeons charge fees even for consultancy, hence, visit only registered medical practitioners, who offer free consultancy. This will help you cut down on the total cost of the treatment. Since the recovery time extends for few weeks, family support is essential. Further, you may need to contact your insurance agent to ask, if he has a policy covering this form of a surgery. Lastly, the decision to go for a spine surgery is totally dependent on an individual and his family.
